10 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



The tail was fanned out to its widest extent. She occa- 

 sionally scratched her head with her toe to comb out the 

 moisture, while later on she began to preen her breast. 

 Sometimes one wing only was extended, and then the tip 

 was lower than when both were extended. Often the 

 tail was only partially opened. In the various positions 

 she would stand absolutely motionless for a minute or 

 more at a time. When she got in the shade she was more 

 active in her movements and kept her back to the wind 

 and continually opened and shut her wings and tail, 

 letting the wind go through the feathers. Once, however, 

 she held her tail widely fanned for more than three 

 minutes. Later on she moved on to a very sunny dead 

 branch and stood with wings widely expanded and the 

 flight feathers separated. As she was then facing me 

 I could see the markings on the feathers under the wings 

 quite easily. She then closed her wings and opened the 

 tail. She was now fairly dry, but kept on opening her 

 wings and tail to the sun for some time. She then began 

 to go over her plumage carefully with her bill and paid 

 particular attention to the flight feathers and greater 

 coverts. 



After forty-nine minutes she stopped preening, and 

 became sleepy and watchful by turns for another seven 

 minutes, and then flew away presumably to meet the 

 cock. 



